We all look forward to the future. The future gives us hope and a focus to improve our lives.

2015 was an amazing year! My wife and I moved to a new house and welcomed our first child – Penelope Ciccarello. Fatherhood has been a great journey. Every minute is different, and I look forward to what the future holds.

With all of the changes I’ve had to adapt. 2015 was a year of little racing and less structured gym/running workouts. I’m looking forward to improved fitness in 2016 and re-qualifying for Boston.

I’m proud to announce my very talented sister, Laura Ciccarello, has launched her spring 2015 collection! Until Friday (2/13), you can receive an exclusive $20 off discount (enter code: LAUNCHVIP) on all pre-orders.

A good friend, Todd Stabenow, is participating in his first Ironman (Chattanooga) this year and raising money for a great cause. I’m supporting him not only because of our friendship, he is also putting up a $1,500 4-night stay in Charleston to one lucky winner.

Every $30 donation gives you an entry where you have no worse than a 1/100 chance of winning a stay Sept-May in this beautiful Charleston home.

Looking for a good medium hill in Charlotte to do a hill workout? My favorite for the 400m distance is located close to the Bank of America Panthers stadium on Greenleaf Ave and West 1st Street off South Cedar Street.

There is plenty of parking on either street, and the traffic flow is low in the mornings. After you warm up, I recommend starting here and running to the top of Greenleaf Ave.

Recover back down the same hill until you reach your starting point, then run the opposite direction (West 1st Street) until you reach the top. Repeat the recovery jog down, and run back up Greenleaf Ave.

Here is what the workout looks like if you are using a Garmin:

If you are using a watch, you can leave the clock running, pressing the lap button at the start and stop of each hill to gauge your splits.

Give it a try, I believe you will like the hill variation, challenge and scenery.